Day: December 17, 2006

In a follow-up to this story from earlier this week in which defense attorneys filed papers in court which said that the DNA that was on the alleged victim was DNA from other men and not the accused, the Raleigh-News and Observer files this story:

The head of a private DNA laboratory testified Friday that he and District Attorney Mike Nifong agreed last spring not to report DNA results favorable to Duke lacrosse players charged with rape.

The testimony of DNA Security director Brian Meehan could create difficulties inside and outside the courtroom for Nifong. The district attorney did not challenge Meehan’s testimony, but he said after court that he did not withhold evidence. He said the defense could have asked for that material all along.

North Carolina law requires Nifong to hand over all evidence regardless of whether it has been requested. The sanctions for violating this law could include a dismissal of all charges against the three players.

But what would the possible violation of this law mean for recently re-elected DA Mike Nifong?

Friday’s testimony also will provide grist for those calling for Nifong to be disciplined or prosecuted. A North Carolina congressman recently asked the FBI to investigate the case. And the N.C. State Bar has received a number of complaints calling for Nifong to be disciplined for his public comments condemning the lacrosse players and for directing a police photo identification lineup that violated Durham Police Department policies.

“I tell you, the more you hear about his missteps, the more you have to question whether it’s purely a matter of incompetence or worse,” said James E. Coleman, a law professor at Duke University who has been critical of Nifong.

I’ll go with “or worse.”

Liestoppers has a must-read post on this latest news and wonders about the effects that this case – which more and more each day looks like nothing more than a hoax started by the alleged “victim” and perpetuated by her attorney – may have on real victims of crime everywhere.

On a somewhat lighter note, Betsy Newmark links up to a Saturday Night Live “Nancy Grace on the Duke Lacrosse rape case” skit.

HOOD RIVER, Ore. – Teams looking for three missing climbers on Mount Hood found a body after searching a second snow cave Sunday, an official said.

The dead climber had not yet been identified, said Pete Hughes, a spokesman for the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office. The body was believed to be one of the three missing climbers, authorities said.

The body was found in a snow cave — but not the one that was first searched earlier Sunday, he said.

“We have confirmed one fatality” said Capt. Michael Braibish of the Oregon National Guard. “We do not have the identity of that individual at this time. To say anything more at this point would be speculation.”

Earlier this week I blogged about the missing hikers and noted that ST reader Melissa in Texas had posted a request for prayers – one of the hikers, Kelly James, is her husband’s cousin. Please continue to keep the hikers – and their families – in your thoughts and prayers.

Delhomme may not start today in the Panthers’ 1 p.m. home game against the Steelers. The Steelers have won 4 of their last 5, while the Panthers have lost 3 straight (including last week’s humilating loss to NC Cop’s Giants). So Pittsburgh has momentum on their side while the Panthers have desperation and a hunger to win on theirs.

My, how far we’ve fallen from being Sports Illustrated’s pick to win it all. That’s twice they picked us to go all the way. I’m beginning to think having SI on your side is a curse.

In other depressing sports news, check out footage of last night’s brawl between the NBA’s Knicks and Nuggets.

Former Democratic vice presidential nominee John Edwards intends to enter the 2008 race for the White House, two Democratic officials said Saturday.

Edwards, who represented North Carolina in the Senate for six years, plans to make the campaign announcement late this month from the New Orleans neighborhood hit hardest by Hurricane Katrina last year and slow to recover from the storm.

Hmm. I guess he decided that announcing it in his home state wouldn’t be nearly as exciting nor pull on the heartstrings of the American people that announcing it from the hardest hit (by Hurricane Katrina) neighborhood in New Orleans likely will.

Watch for lots of emotional setups like this from the Edwards campaign over the next year or so as Edwards tries to woo voters. Americans nationally got a taste of Edwards’ flair for dramatics when he made the following campaign promise in October 2004 regarding embryonic stem cell research:

“If we do the work that we can do in this country, the work that we will do when John Kerry is president, people like Christopher Reeve will get up out of that wheelchair and walk again.”

This is what Edwards does best.

Prepare for Pandermonium. And don’t be surprised in the coming months to see the MSM pushing for an Edwards/Obama “dream ticket” in ’08.

I have to say that I’m disappointed Hot Air didn’t win in the best video blog category. Ah well – not winning doesn’t necessarily mean that a blog isn’t the best and I think the best video competition is a clear example of that